Data Scientist

Req ID: 446193 

BASIC PURPOSE: The Data Scientist will perform a variety of tasks and projects that address the advanced analytical needs of the broader business. You will mine and analyze complex and unstructured data sets using advanced statistical methods for use in data driven decision making. Your objective will be to enable the use of advanced analytical techniques to support the decision making, planning, and measurement of key initiatives. To perform the job successfully, an individual should be a key contributor in delivering recommendations that drive business profitability, increase efficiencies and improve the customer experience. Other duties, assignments and specific projects may be assigned at the discretion of management. You will report to the Manager of Advanced Analytics and be supported along the way with robust coaching and development to help you grow. A qualified candidate will have a good mix of technology and insights skills and should be able to use a wide variety of tools and technologies. 

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Learn the Love’s business. Develop deep fluency in the composition, roles, and contributions of Love’s products, strategy, and customers, as well as Love’s business performance.
• Work with multiple data platforms to perform ad hoc reporting, database mining, and analysis that provide a better understanding of the customer.
• Coordinate with various Love’s business units to gather requirements, develop models as appropriate, and provide actionable insights.
• Incorporate advanced statistical techniques and machine learning concepts (time series forecasting, clustering, neural network) to solve business problems.
• Utilize statistical languages (R, Python, SAS) to manipulate data and draw insights from large data sets.
• Develop processes and tools to monitor and analyze model performance and data accuracy.
• Utilize predictive modeling to increase and optimize customer experiences, store features, revenue, and other business outcomes.
• Apply A/B testing framework and test model quality.
• Create presentations and deliver insights and recommendations in a clear, concise manner using meaningful visualizations that allow for business understanding and action.
• Support any existing and future reporting or analytical needs.
• Coordinate with outside data and analytics vendors.
• Other duties assigned as needed.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:   

• BA/BS minimum, Masters preferred, in a relevant field, such as business analytics, mathematics, statistics, finance, economics, management information systems, computer science, engineering or other quantitative fields.
• 1-2 years of experience preferred in retail, sales, marketing, data, IT, or operations with exposure to reporting and analytics
• In-depth, hands-on knowledge of data science tools preferred
• Proven experience with troubleshooting principles and issue resolution techniques

SKILLS AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Hard Skills:

• Proficiency querying data from relational databases using SQL
• Competency using R, Python, or other similar statistical software to develop analytical solutions
• Experience with data wrangling, data cleaning and prep
• Awareness of Big Data concepts, tools, and architecture
• Data modelling and business analytics experience
• Excel proficiency including simple formulas and pivot tables
• Understanding of data warehouse principles and database structures
• Data visualization (Tableau preferred)

Soft Skills:

• Natural curiosity that welcomes and embraces change and willingness to try new things
• Excellent written, oral and interpersonal skills
• Ability to devise an analytical approach to solving business problems
• Capacity to explain and simplify complex analytics for a wide range of audiences
• Work effectively within a team -oriented and collaborative environment
• Keen attention to detail
• Highly motivated self-starter 

Typical Physical Demands:

• Requires prolonged sitting, some bending and stooping
• Occasional lifting up to 25 pounds
• Manual dexterity sufficient to operate a computer keyboard and calculator
• Requires normal range of hearing and vision
• Travel required as needed
• On-call availability

Job Function(s): Corporate 

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores is the industry-leading travel stop network in the United States. For more than 55 years, we’ve provided customers with highway hospitality and “Clean Places, Friendly Faces.” We’re passionate about serving drivers with clean, modern facilities stocked with fuel, food and supplies. We offer meals from popular restaurant chains, trucking supplies, showers and everything needed to get back on the road quickly. The Love’s Family of Companies includes:

• Gemini Motor Transport, one of the industry’s safest trucking fleets
• Speedco, the light mechanical and trucking service specialists
• Musket, a rapidly growing, Houston-based commodities supplier and trader
• Trillium, a Houston-based alternative fuels expert